By Annaika Dastine | Founder, Who Is This Jesus? Ministry

"That is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith."

We Need One Another

As a servant of Jesus Christ called to share the gospel through the lens of spiritual warfare, I never want to place myself above those I serve.

Paul’s message to the Roman church has taught me so much about humility in my walk with Jesus.

Can you see Paul’s humility in this week’s Scripture?

Paul was an apostle. God had given him extraordinary revelation. He had planted churches, preached the gospel across nations, endured persecution, and taught countless believers.

Yet Paul did not approach the Roman believers saying, “I want to come and teach you everything you need to know.” Instead, he spoke of partnership in the gospel: “I want to strengthen you—and I expect your faith to strengthen me.”

My friend, this is humility in action.

What is our posture as we minister the gospel of Jesus Christ to others? Do we rely on our knowledge and credentials, or on the undeserved grace that gives us the opportunity to extend the love God has shown us?

Paul recognized that God can use another believer to minister to us, regardless of our title, experience, education, or position.

Later, Paul tells the Corinthians:

1 Corinthians 12:21 (NIV)
“The eye cannot say to the hand, ‘I don’t need you!’”

No member of Christ’s body has everything. We need one another. No matter how many years we have walked with the Lord, we still need each other.

Paul demonstrated this personally. During a time of severe difficulty, he wrote:

2 Corinthians 7:6 (NIV)
“But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus…”

Think about that. The Apostle Paul needed encouragement, and God chose another believer to bring it. Paul was humble enough to admit that he needed strengthening too.

Does that reflect our attitude in the Lord?

Sometimes pride tells us:

I am the teacher.
I am the leader.
I am the one God uses.

But humility says:

“God can use you to teach, strengthen, correct, and encourage me too.”

God Never Intended Us to Walk Alone

I have experienced this in my own walk with Jesus. There are days when my flesh resists gathering with other believers. Yet those are often the very moments when God strengthens my faith—sometimes by letting me encourage someone else, and other times by encouraging me through them.

God never intended us to walk this journey alone.

Hebrews 10:24–25 (NIV) tells us:

“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together…”

God works when His children come together. We encourage. We strengthen. We correct. We comfort. We remind one another of truth.

We need one another. Unity among God’s children is a powerful weapon against Satan’s schemes in our lives.

Reflection question: Are you willing to receive encouragement, correction, and strength from another believer, just as you seek to offer those gifts to them?

Weekly Reflection Romans 1:12 NIV